Cobb County School District Advanced Learning Programs

Gifted Eligibility Process

Frequently Asked Questions:
What are the state requirements for gifted eligibility in the State of Georgia?
A video presentation of the Cobb County Gifted Eligibility Process and Service Models is available on the
Cobb County School District website at
http://support.cobbk12.org/ALP/documents/newpresentations/GiftedEligibilityMovie_8_4_15.mp4
The specific criteria is outlined on the Cobb County School District website at
http://www.cobbk12.org/centraloffice/academics/teachinglearning/assessment/advancedlearning/gifte
dlearner/
Who is screened for gifted eligibility?
Automatic referral: All children are screened on a consistent basis (currently K, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 8th
grades) through district-wide assessment. Based on these scores, some children may be eligible for
further assessment.
Reported referral: Any person with knowledge of a childs abilities may refer him/her at any time. Once
a referral has been made, the LEC (Local Eligibility Committee) will review the available data and
recommend or deny further assessment. In order to ensure district-wide consistency, the CEC (Central
Eligibility Committee) reviews all reported referrals submitted for approval by an LEC. Please note, a
referral does not necessarily equate to evaluation.
How does the local eligibility committee decide whether further evaluation is warranted?
The local eligibility committee reviews all available data to determine whether a child is achieving well
above grade level. This data usually includes county-wide assessments, including, but not limited to, the
Scholastic Math Inventory (SMI), Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI), Touchstones, Developmental
Reading Inventory, state-wide academic testing (such as the Milestones), GLOSS, and classroom
performance.
If my child was in a gifted program in another school system, will he/she be the gifted program in
Cobb County?
There is in-state reciprocity among public school systems within the state of Georgia. A child currently
receiving gifted services in a Georgia public school system who registers in Cobb County will be served as
soon as eligibility can be verified in writing. Georgia does NOT have reciprocity with other states gifted
programs. These students may be considered for eligibility through the reported referral process.
If my child receives nonstandard accommodations during the testing process, can those scores be
used for gifted eligibility?
Scores obtained with non-standard accommodations are not utilized for gifted eligibility. However, they
can be considered as a basis for a reported referral in which all available data is reviewed to determine if
further assessment for gifted eligibility is warranted.

Will Milestones testing be used for gifted eligibility?

Milestones data can be considered during the reported referral process as a screener only. It cannot be
used to establish eligibility according to the guidelines provided by the Georgia Department of
Education.
Can a private psychological report be used for eligibility?
For the reported referral process, private data may be considered as a part of the screening process.
This will only occur during a regularly scheduled gifted eligibility assessment window.
Who scores my childs tests for gifted eligibility?
Assessments given outside of system-wide testing will be scored by certified evaluators who have been
trained on scoring and norming procedures. There is no formal score report (such as the Individual
Performance Profile) generated in this process. You will receive the composite scores from all
assessment in an eligibility document (GF4 or GF5) when the process is complete.
What is a motivation portfolio?
A motivation portfolio is a follow-up evaluation measure in the area of motivation in grades 1-5. It
consists of a number of documents that reflect a childs motivation for learning in academic areas. Input
from the student, the classroom teacher, and the parent is included. A committee of trained evaluators
from outside the students local school evaluates each portfolio. Student portfolios are evaluated on six
motivational characteristics: enthusiasm, exceptionality, persistence, independence, consistency, and
productivity.
My childs score report shows qualifying scores in three areas, but he/she did not qualify. Why is this?
Rating scales are utilized to screen for eligibility in the categories of creativity and motivation. Per the
state rule, a rating scale (GES/GRS) may also be used to establish eligibility but in only one category,
either creativity or motivation. When existing data warrants a follow up measure, further assessment
may be provided in some categories within one calendar year.
What do I do if my child does not qualify, but I believe he/she needs services?
All children are screened on a consistent basis (currently K, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 8th grades) through
district-wide assessment. If you think your child may have been overlooked, you may refer your child
for further consideration using a GF1 (request this form from local school gifted lead). Once a referral
has been made, the LEC (Local Eligibility Committee) will review the available data and recommend or
deny further assessment. In order to ensure district-wide consistency, the CEC (Central Eligibility
Committee) reviews all reported referrals submitted for approval by an LEC. Please note, a referral does
not necessarily equate to evaluation.